First Tee Golf Camps Starting Soon reposted by Ruth Paget

First Tee Golf-Based Summer Camps are starting soon across Monterey County.

For information about the First Tee Summer Golf Camp, check out their website below:

https://firstteemontereycounty.org/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Elaine Douvas, Oboe, at Hidden Valley in Carmel Valley, California reposted Ruth Paget

Elaine Douvas, Oboe, who has performed for the Metropolitan Opera, will be in concert at Hidden Valley in Carmel Valley, California on June 2, 2026 according to the Monterey County Community Calendar.

More information and ticket purchase details from the Monterey County Weekly Calendar follow:

https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/masters-concert-elaine-douvas-oboe/18885965/2026-06-02T19

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at UChicago Hosts Lecture of Sudanese Archaeological Work Amidst Conflict reposted by Ruth Paget

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago will host a lecture on Sudanese archaeological work during a time of conflict on May 27, 2026 with French scholar Vincent Francigny, who has lived in Khartoum for more than ten years as the head of the French Archaeological Mission there..

Information about this free event follows:

https://events.uchicago.edu/event/258182-nubian-month-visiting-scholar-lecture-with-vincent-fr?mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGiBPWZl0H65O0wHFOtJhzFGewK6uK9NFaS00oZ1p07prk6uXg3gY_8ujKuqVGbOxGJ7-_DTkmfqiF7dgurUkdLeyn4-eeHMhKv3g4B_NSjkwksRvo

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Mexican Bush Sage Sighting at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget

While drinking a Peerless organic coffee from The Market at Pebble Beach )California), I saw a sprawling bush with spiky green leaves along the garden trail.

I used Google lens to identify this plant called a Mexican bush sage.

In late summer and early fall the leaves are full of purple flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Mexican bush sages require minimal watering and seem to do well with ocean fog and drizzle.

According to nursery notes from Mountain Valley Growers, Mountain bush sage offers good ground coverage for a minimum outlay of money.

More nursery information and purchase details follow:

https://mountainvalleygrowers.com/organic-plants/salvia-leucantha-all-purple-mexican-bush-sage/

My husband Laurent brought me a souvenir to go with my nature walk - a bag of Pebble Beach brand Espresso Maranello coffee beans for weekend breakfasts.

I thought that was a great souvenir for a garden walk and bird watching at Pebble Beach, California.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

To host an exchange student or study abroad - check out Youth for Understanding reposted by Ruth Paget

To host an international exchange student or have a student study abroad as an exchange student, check out Youth for Understanding for options including scholarships:

https://yfuusa.org/

I went to Japan as an exchange student with Youth for Understanding in 1980.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Gams

Places to Find Potted Cooking Herbs in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Places to Find Potted Cooking Herbs in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

While making a trip to Nob Hill for bread and drinkable yogurt, I saw that Nob Hill was selling potted herbs and vegetables in the entrance.   Snipping fresh herbs into a dish always makes me think of Nigella Lawson’s cooking shows.

Salinas cooks interested in perking up dishes like eggs, rice with butter, pasta with tomato sauce, mashed potatoes with butter and/or sour cream, and salads might enjoy checking out what the following stores have to offer as potted herbs and/or vegetables:

*Nob Hill

Salinas, California

*Lowe’s

Salinas, California

*CVS

Salinas, California - check online first for availability

*Costco

Salinas and Sand City, California

*Trader Joe’s

Marina, California

Happy Cooking!

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Purple Flowered Brazilian Vervain Verbena Sighting at the Farm outside Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

While picking up an apple crisp pie (around $33) at the Farm outside Salinas (California), I saw a 6-foot purple plant growing the parking lot by the garden.

I used Google lens to identify the plant and saw that is is a Brazilian vervain verbena plant.

The Brazilian vervain verbena is very useful to the Salinas area for several reasons:

-their flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and other crop pollinators

-bees use honey they collect to make honey

-the plant is drought resistant

-the plant is heat tolerant

-the plant is deer resistant

Details on this plant from a nursery and purchase information follow:

https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/brazilian-vervain-verbena-seeds?variant=43922580373757&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19807336947&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19814964674&gbraid=0AAAAAD5FVGyG5Z3SJOiGbKy1SC-qRpTMH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtuj6gP8ILJ6mJhjP9VpXlUMdOcpmusBONpK4EQSTq9kmFWIVXlTjpUaAgS5EALw_wcB

Have fun garden strolling at the Farm outside Salinas, California where you can buy pie and heirloom tomatoes among other items!

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games